Date: Fri, 2 Dec 1994 11:22:15 -0800 Reply-To: Highlander TV show stories Sender: Highlander TV show stories From: Perri Subject: What's Past is Prologue (6/7) X-To: fkfic-l@psuvm.psu.edu What's Past is Prologue (6 of 7) By Perri Smith Copyright 1994 They didn't come that night, or even the next. Deirdre's death filled a small space on the second page of the Chronicle -- as usual, the police had no leads, no suspects and no explanations for the freak lightning storm that same morning. Aislyn and Michael traded shifts on guard outside, Aislyn keeping watch by day, while Michael slept in a closed room. By night, Michael watched as Aislyn slept. The third night, Michael hovered over the peak of Kurt's roof. Thankfully, the fog had rolled in right on schedule, hiding him from Kurt and his neighbors. Not that it mattered, he thoguht. In San Francisco, most people probably wouldn't even blink at a flying man. The same fog that blocked normal vision was enhancing his infrared -- so far, he had spotted three dogs, four cats and a couple who apparently wanted to be alone. He'd left them with amusement and only a faint twinge of envy. He left the roof to circle the area again. Kurt had chosen a quiet neighborhood, where the houses were spaced widely apart and everyone minded their own business. A good place to avoid trouble. Too bad it had come looking for him. He banked to avoid a chimney, never taking his eyes off the ground. Nothing moving now -- even the young couple had gone looking for someplace warmer. He headed back to the house. Aislyn was waiting for him on the porch stairs. "You're supposed to be asleep," he informed her, landing easily at the bottom of the stairs. "I couldn't," she answered, rubbing her arms against the chill of the night. "I couldn't settle down." Michael had learned, over the years, to respect Aislyn's instincts. "Then it will happen tonight?" he only half-asked. She nodded. "How's Kurt?" "He fell asleep in front of the fire," Ais almost smiled. "He's not used to this, poor lad." Michael snorted. Only Ais would refer to a 147-year-old man as a lad. Ais raised an eyebrow at him, then looked away to scan the grounds, shivering from more than the cold. Michael watched her rub her arms. They had fought in countless wars, seen death and destruction in every form -- Aislyn herself had taken 23 heads. Yet she still shivered. He didn't comment on it. "Tonight," he repeated. "You'd better go wake Kurt." She nodded, and stood to go back inside. The buzz hit her like a 2-by-4. Michael heard her gasp, saw the involuntary grab for her sword. "They're here," she answered his unspoken question. "Very close." The sword was out now, her body tense, every sense straining. She wasn't shivering anymore. "Where?" He had turned and was hunting as well. Only cool green and black met his sight. Nothing glowed with the red of heat. "I can't tell," she answered. "Go wake Kurt." He was in the air before she made it thorough the door. "Kurt!" Aislyn started hollering the second the door opened. It echoed off the empty walls of the hall as she ran for the stairs. There was no answer. The hall lights reflected off her blade. making patterns on the walls. The study door was open, but the buzz warned her, stopping her in the doorway. It also saved her life. A sword swung out of nowhere. She parried automatically, ducking under it into the room. She took in the scene at a glance. Kurt's body lay in front of the fireplace, a sword sticking out of his back. Thankfully, he still had his head. But a short, blond Immortal, curiously unimpressive despite obvious muscles, stood over him, Kurt's sword raised over his head to make the final blow. Ais ignored him, her attention on the taller, dark-haired Immortal who had attacked her. He smiled, a cold, evil smile. *Michael does that better,* Ais thought calmly. Both Immortals were young, and stupid to take her on. "You bastards. This is against the rules," she spit out. "We are Immortal. Who cares about rules?" With that, the blond Immortal lunged for her again. She dodged instead of blocking, kicking him in the gut as she went by. He almost dropped his sword. *Pathetic,* she thought. The rage was back, but instead of obscuring her vision, it made everything strangely clear. The other Immortal saw his ally stumble and howled, running to attack the woman who had appeared out of nowhere. She barely got her sword up in time to stop his insane lunge. She parried and returned his attack, but he forced her back through sheer strength. Aislyn sensed the other recovering his breath, coming around to flank her. On some unspoken signal, both of them attacked. She met them in a clash of blades, forced back another few steps. One blade got through, cutting into her arm. She felt blood begin to flow. But for all of their strength, there was little skill there, and she was able to stay a thought ahead of them. She felt the pain from her wounded arm dimly, from a distance. She could almost head Rebecca's voice in her head, guiding her through endless practice drills. Her movements flowed together. But they had a distinct advantage and, swashbuckling movies aside, she knew it was only a matter of time before one of them got through again. So she attacked. The driving lunge caught the blond Immortal by surprise. This time, it was he who barely parried and fell back. She pursued him relentlessly, until his foot caught the edge of the rug and he stumbled. A twist of her blade sent his sword flying to land near Kurt. She lifted her sword for the killing stroke, as her senses warned her of the other Immortal's attack. She whirled to face him, sword en guarde. But instead of the clash of blades, she heard his scream and saw him hanging several feet off the ground, his feet dangling uselessly. He was staring straight into glowing yellow eyes and snarling fangs. Michael hissed in the Immortal's face in genuine fury, getting another panicked scream from his victim before throwing him casually across the room. He hit the wall with a sick thump, crashing to the ground next to Kurt. "Behind you," Michael half-hissed. Aislyn was already turning and leveling her sword, batting away the blond Immortal's sword, raised to atack, in the same movement with which she took his head. For a moment, it seemed as if the fog from outside had drifted into the room, surrounding the body with a silvery glow. Then it rose to wrap around Aislyn. She threw her head back in silent agony as the Quickening took her. Lightning struck her body, rebounding to the rest of the room. The lamps in the hallway shattered one by one, the Tiffany over the desk exploding. It went on forever. Finally, Aislyn fell to her knees, the last of the lightning still playing around her. Michael knelt beside her, supporting her in the aftermath. She was too tired to speak, but finally managed a harsh whisper: "What took you so long?" "Traffic." The deadpan answer surprised her into a laugh, which turned quickly into a coughing fit. She held onto him tightly until it passed. "Thanks," she said hoarsely. "No problem." "How's Kurt?" "I'm not sure." He turned to look at the other -- and saw the dark Immortal going for the sword lying next to Kurt's body. He shouted, grabbing Aislyn's sword with vampiric speed and parrying the blade aimed at her head. Moving faster than his opponent could even see, he blocked the feeble swing, then backswung. There was a soft thump. "Oh God," Ais moaned numbly. It was all she could get out before the second Quickening hit. When this one passed, she couldn't move, just slumped forward on the carpet. Michael sank to the floor next to her. Across the room, Kurt's body jerked. His eyes opened and he moaned, the only sound in the room other than Aislyn's harsh breathing. his whisper was loud in the silence. "What did I miss?" __________________________________________________________________________ Perri "There's nothing in the rule book that says FOLC an elephant can't pitch!" DDEBrigadier Knightie "Life's a walking shadow......." ___________________________________________________________________________ =========================================================================